In order to establish the Bible as a true document, it must be historically reliable. Therefore, it must depict people, places, and events accurately.

In order to answer this question, we will examine six lines of testimony that begin with the letter E, which can be applied to any document to validate its historical accuracy.

Early testimony – The majority, if not all, of the New Testament scriptures were written before 78 AD. The fact that these documents were written within a generation of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and during the apostles’ lifetime, helps prove their authenticity. Additionally, the early church writings and other historical documents affirm this timeline.

Eyewitness Testimony – Between the Gospel of John and Acts, around 140 eyewitness accounts are documented. These accounts come from apostles or their contemporaries, lending credibility to the events they describe. The presence of eyewitness testimony is one of the most important components of historical evidence.

Embarrassing testimony – The Bible contains many embarrassing details that you wouldn’t expect the writers themselves to have made up like Peter denying Jesus, the disciples running into hiding after Jesus’ crucifixion and women being the first to witness the resurrection. These embarrassing details contribute to the historical authenticity and help establish the truth of the Gospel.

Excruciating testimony – The New Testament writers died painful/agonizing deaths when they could have escaped simply  by denying Christ. But they stood boldly for the truth they had witnessed and went to their deaths anyway.

Expected testimony – The Old Testament prophecies lead us to expect a Messiah with the same characteristics as Jesus. One of the most famous prophetic chapters is Isaiah 53 which was written approximately 600 years before Jesus was born which collaborates the New Testament accounts – mainly the crucification.

Extra-biblical testimony – Even if you disregard all the New Testament manuscripts, there are about ten other authentic ancient non-Christian sources available. These sources were written within 150 years of Jesus’s life (documenting His storyline and the early church), and by using them alone, you could draft gospel account.

In conclusion, the combination of these evidences robustly supports the Bible’s historical reliability. Its diverse yet consistent accounts attest to its credibility as a historical document.